Call for Young Makers to Apply to Seattle Mini Maker Faire 2013
The mission of the Seattle Mini Maker Faire is to inspire, inform, connect and entertain Makers of all ages and backgrounds, by gathering technology enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkers, hobbyists, science clubs, students, authors and commercial exhibitors under one roof. Last year, we had over 3,000 people come to Seattle Center to participate in our inaugural Mini Maker Faire with hands-on workshops, demonstrations, competitions and lectures on everything from crocheting to robots. This year, we want to bring even more Young Makers into the mix—with spots reserved just for projects made by kids!
For the 2013 Seattle Mini Maker Faire, we are seeking applications from Young Makers—aged 10-17 years and passionate about hands-on learning—to exhibit their projects through a demonstration, presentation, or workshop at the Seattle Center on June 8-9, 2013. The best participants for Seattle Mini Maker Faire are mature young people and their adult mentors who are willing to explain, demonstrate, and share their project with others.
There is no fee for Young Makers to participate in the 2013 Seattle Mini Maker Faire. However, Young Makers who apply to participate must:
- Have a project in the field of art, science, music, or engineering that is or will be completed and ready for exhibition by May 10. This project(s) must be sturdy, safe, and able to withstand a considerable amount of handling by visitors.
- Educate and engage the public on the process of “making” with: (A) a demonstration, (B) a presentation, or (C) hands-on workshop. While some art or science fairs tend to keep projects behind glass, the Seattle Mini Maker Faire is a hands-on, minds-on event for all ages. Our exhibitors engage the public by showing what it means to really make something—teaching techniques, showcasing tools, and demonstrating both the perfect and not-so-perfect products of their labor. Last year, a class of 5th graders and three adults from University Child Development School hosted a hands-on demonstration booth for the entire weekend.
- Commit your time to setup, demonstrate, and cleanup your exhibit.
- For Booth Demonstrations and Workshops, the time commitment is minimum of 1 day (8 hours) per Young Maker group, during which you will explain and demonstrate your project(s) to the public. If you have a large group of students or a lot of stamina, you are welcome to run a dedicated booth for the entire weekend.
- Presentations and musical performances on our stage can be 10 to 30 minutes long. We provide a projector, microphones, a table, and the ability to connect a laptop or other device with a VGA cable. You are welcome to deliver a presentation in addition to running a booth demonstration. Last year one of our presenters brought a microwave and performed spark-tacular experiments on stage.
Young Makers who apply must also have an adult manager responsible for the coordination and supervision of their participation up to and throughout the 2013 Seattle Mini Maker Faire.
The adult manager must be willing to:
- Coordinate and manage the needs of the Young Maker(s) with the Young Maker Faire Coordinator as the main contact for the group, ensuring that projects are completed on time and meet the requirements necessary for exhibition.
- Arrange transportation and attendance for the two days of exhibition (June 8-9, 2013) and ensure shifts are filled by adults and children who can manage behavior during exhibition time.
All participation is free for interested Young Makers. If interested, please apply at MakerFaireSeattle.com/YoungMakers between February 20th and April 1st. Notice of selected applications will be posted by April 12th. If selected, all involved participants will receive:
- A certificate of participation in the Seattle Mini Maker Faire, commending their talent, problem-solving, and willingness to communicate what it takes to be a Maker. (For teens, we will happily provide letters of recommendation).
- An invitation to our Young Maker Open House in May 2013.
- A seriously fun and memorable experience!
We love having Young Makers demo their projects at the Faire—but we love it even more when they help teach other kids Maker skills! Hands-on activities and workshops are welcomed and highly encouraged with every application. Here are only a few of the topics we’re looking for:
Protein Chains with beads and pipecleaners
- Individual and Group Projects
- Robotics
- Music Performance and Participation
- 3D Printers and CNC Mills
- Textile Arts and Crafts
- Home Energy Monitoring
- Rockets and RC Toys
- Sustainable, recycled and repurposed creations
- Green Tech
- Woodwork, ceramics
- Radios, Vintage Computers and Game Systems
- Electric and human-powered vehicles
- Biology/Biotech and Chemistry Projects
- Puppets
- Kites, lanterns, origami
- Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and other microcontrollers
- Unusual Tools or Machines
- How to Fix Things or Take them Apart (Vacuums, Clocks, Washing Machines, etc.)
Apply Now on our Maker page
Are you excited to share what you make? We’re accepting applications through April 1. Questions? Want to discuss your project? Contact our Young Maker volunteer team at YM@makerfaireseattle.com
